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Urban Reviews: Can you tell us what your latest book Spittin' Game is all
about?
T. L. Bryant: Spittin' Game centers around Xavier Thompson, who has just had the
night from Hell and today isn't looking much better when he receives
a phone call at 6:00 A.M. from his older brother Michael asking him
to meet him at the local bar. Xavier rolls out of bed and meets
Michael who looks like a kid who got pissed on and passed over by
Santa.
Last night Michael took a break from his highly successful political
campaign for Congressman on Indy's East Side to spend an evening
alone with his wife Debra. What is meant to be a night of romance
becomes anything but when Debra drops a bomb in the hotel room,
asking Michael to do a little reverse role play complete with pink
panties, stockings, and high heels for him!
After several "hell no's!", a couple of "Woman you must be crazy,"
and a "I'm gonna get da car!" Debra seductively convinces Michael to
try the idea. Figuring no body would ever find out, Michael decides
a little role-playing might be a good way to spice things up.
Everything is going great until a fire starts in their room forcing
Michael outside in his "man panties" and into the arms of Theresa
Gomez, an aggressive tabloid reporter on rise. The next morning
Michael sees there is going to be a "special" exposé' on his life on
Theresa's tabloid show Inside Scoop. Figuring the worst, he informs
Xavier of his intention to drop out of the race.
After laughing his butt off, Xavier decides he can't let Michael go
out like that and becomes determined to save his brother's career at
all costs. Along with Kyle, their younger brother, Xavier embarks on
a quest to get Michael's "prancing panties" tape back before the
evening broadcast. While reminiscing about their own sexual mishaps
coming up in the game,
Xavier learns the truth about the story and discovers his brother's
career is not the only thing on the line if the tape goes on the
air.
Urban Reviews:
How did you come up with the storyline for this novel?
T. L. Bryant: Spittin' Game is meant to be an introduction to me, my specifically
my writing. Since Spittin' Game is actually several stories under
the umbrella of one; the tales come from a variety of places. Some
are inspired from my life or friends' life but pretty much they're
from my crazy imagination. Where some see the world in black and
white; my mind sees it in tie dye! Plus I think the storyline is
something to which we can all relate. People of color Black,
Latin, etc. are cultures with a deep roots of sensuality but we are
also human. As humans, we've all had those less than glorious
love making moments, where maybe we decided to try that special move
we saw on the nasty movie we got hidden up in the closet, we think
nobody know about, that we've practiced it in our minds all day,
telling ourselves I'm gonna put something on him/her tonight! Then
thirty minutes into the night we stuck in a lotus position, looking
like a pretzel in the E.R. We've all been there. So the stories come
from the hilarious side of sex that everyone has had but don't tell
anyone.
Urban Reviews:
What things did you do to help prepare yourself for the book
business?
T. L. Bryant: To get into the book business I did a lot of reading on the internet
about how things work in the literary world. I also tried to pick a
few writers whose work I wanted to emulate and tried to follow suit
the best I could. I also received advice from people already
in the business, authors, agents, editors; illustrators and I really
tried to take their advice to heart.
Urban Reviews: What do you think about the book business now that you are fully
submerged in it?
T. L. Bryant: The book business is tough, especially if you are a self publisher.
You have to do everything on your own and wear many hats,
accountant, agent, marketer, manager, bodyguard (in case you piss
someone off or get a stalker) to name a few.
Urban Reviews:
Considering this is your first novel, do you have any naysayers who
doubted that you could even write a book?
T. L. Bryant: Most people have been surprised I've even written a novel (not sure
how to take that, like I'm stupid or something, just kidding). After
actually seeing a book with my name on it most people are positive.
Urban Reviews: Do you think you could continue writing books long-term, or do
you see yourself doing something else in the future?
T. L. Bryant: I see myself in the business for a while. My ultimate dream would
be to see my books in film. There's something about seeing a
movie and looking at all the hard work and people it took to make it
happen. It would be magical to see one of my works on the big screen
and have an active role in bringing it to life.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any upcoming books that you are working on?
T. L. Bryant: I actually have written four other manuscripts besides Spittin' Game. They include Jinga: A Capoeira Tale, City of Palms, Free Pass, and AVA.
Spittin' Game is shortest and I felt would be a good piece to
introduce myself to the world. Jinga: A Capoeira Tale and City of Palms are more
stylized epic action adventure novels. Free Pass is a romantic,
comedy/drama, and AVA is an urban horror/action tale.
Urban Reviews: What things do you like to do outside of writing?
T. L. Bryant: Besides writing I am a martial artist. I dabble in guitar, and enjoy
video games and travel. I am a minor league movie buff.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any favorite authors or books that you enjoy reading?
T. L. Bryant: Zane is a big influence in my writing. I think because of her
work I became more comfortable about letting go and expressing
myself without limits. Carl Weber, Steven King, Peter Benchley
(Jaws, The Beast), and Eric Jerome Dickey I enjoy as well. I'm a fan
of Paul Mooney's comic writing, I'm a big Kevin Smith (Clerks, Jay
and Silent Bob Strike Back) fan, he's really great at writing
dialogue. I'm also a Tyler Perry fan, his stories are engaging and
they invoke emotion with a positive message that most of us can
relate. All these writers take their audiences on a journey;
they take you away; that's what I think entertainment should be, an
escape. I hope that in my works people can see influence of
these writers feel in part they way I feel in I enjoy their works.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share
with us about you or your books?
T. L. Bryant: CHECK OUT THE HILARIOUS FREE PREVIEW OF CHAPTER ONE AT
www.lulu.com/content/3064841.
For more information on JINGAWORKS or T.L. Bryant, visit
Myspace.com/jingaworks
or
www.blackplanet.com/jingaworks.
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